Liquid dispenser for washing appliance



July 11, 1961 J. s. SPAIN LIQUID DISPENSER FOR WASHING APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 17, 1958 United rates Patent 2,991,911 LIQUID DISPENSER FOR WASHING APPLIANCE John S. Spain, 6708 Weber Road, St. Louis 23, Mo. Filed Sept. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 761,634 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-67) This invention relates generally to improvements in a liquid dispenser for a washing appliance, and more particularly to an improved dispenser adapted to introduce a liquid detergent in a dishwasher or a liquid rinsing agent in a clothes washer at a predetermined state in the cycle of operation.

' The liquids that can be conveniently introduced into a dishwasher by this dispenser are liquid detergents, rinsing agents and water softeners, and introduced into a clothes washer are liquid detergent, water softeners, starch and rinsing agents.

Automatic dishwashing machines as well as automatic clothes washing machines and the like operate on an automatic cycle. For example, in a dishwasher the sequence of operation, after the dishes are loaded and the machine started, involves the introduction of water in a pre-rinse period, followed by the introduction of detergent and water for the wash period, draining and rinsing with water, and then drying. In order to make the machine entirely automatic, some means is required to add the detergent at the beginning of the wash period.

Hereto-fore, the use of solid detergents was prevalent, and such' automatic dispensers were particularly designed for this type of detergent. However, more recent research and development in this field has brought to the foreground the use of liquid detergents. Accordingly, it is an important objective of this invention to provide a device that will automatically introduce liquid detergent at the start of the wash period.

In almost all automatic clothes washing machines, the general sequence of washing, extracting, rinsing, then extracting again is utilized. It has been found advantageous to add a treating agent to the rinse water during the rinsing operation. Various treating agents such as water softeners and fabric softeners referred to as rinsing agents may be added.

If a water softener is used a better rinsing action is obtained leaving less detergent in the clothes. The water softener removes mineral constituents in the rinse water which would otherwise react with part of the detergent and retain it in the clothes.

If a fabric softener is added to the rinse water, a softer feeling is imparted to the clothes, the fabric softeners leaving a film on the clothes which create this result.

Accordingly, it is another important objective to provide a new and improved dispenser which may be charged with the rinsing agent before the machine is set in operation and which will then introduce the rising agent automatically into the clothes basket at the start of the rinsing operation.

Another important object is achieved by a dispenser in which the body member is separated into a pair of chambers one above the other, interconnected by means for feeding liquid from the upper chamber to the lower chamber at a predetermined rate, the lower chamber being provided with a siphon tube adapted to discharge the liquid detergent or rinsing agent into the machine when the liquid in the lower chamber reaches a prescribed level after a predetermined time period.

Still another important object is realized by the'provision of a valve means interconnecting the two chainbers of the'dis'penser body, and of means operatively connected to the valve means for placing the chambers in communication responsive to a particular liquid level in the lower chamber. ables a quick surge of a large quantity of liquid into the lower chamber which causes immediate siphoning action of the liquid from the lower chamber and enhances the overall eifectiveness and efliciency of such siphoning action.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the liquid dispenser taken along a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis;

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in cross section, as seen along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the dispenser connected to a liquid reservoir.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, it is seen that the liquid dispenser consists of a hollow body member generally indicated at 10 that is cylindrical in configuration. This cylindrical body member 10 can be constructed of two parts one imposed on top of the other. The bottom part 11 provides a circular annular wall 12 having an inset annular flange 13 forming its upper rim, and having a bottom wall 14. The lower body member part 11 provides a lower chamber 15.

The :upper body member part 16 includes a circular annular wall 17 substantially of the same diameter as the wall 12 of the lower body member part 11. A transverse wall constituting a partition 20 is provided near the lower end of upper body member part 16. A depending circular flange 21 overlaps flange 13 of body member part 11 and serves to position the upper body part on the lower body part, the partition 20 seating on the upper rim of the lower body part. It is seen that the upper body part .16 provides an upper chamber 21 separated from the lower chamber 15 by partition 20.

Of course, this liquid dispenser can be conveniently made of one piece construction. For example, instead of having separable body parts 11 and 16, the annular walls '12 and 17 may be formed of a continuous integral structure, eliminating detachable flanges 13 and 21.

This dispenser may be conveniently constructed of metal or of a molded plastic material.

Located in the lower chamber 15 is a siphon tube 23 having one end 24 disposed closely adjacent the bottom wall 14. The opposite end 25 of siphon tube 23 extends downwardly through and below bottom wall 14, and hence communicates with the exterior of the body member.

Provided in partition 20 is a small hole 26 of the predetermined size adapted to pass liquid from the upper chamber 22 downwardly into the lower chamber 15 at a predetermined rate, and thus will be designated hereinafter as a timing hole.

A valve port 27 is formed in partition 20, and in the particular instance is provided by a rubber grommet. Normally seated in valve port 2'7 in a valve-closing position is a valve element 30 that is disposed in the upper chamber 22. A rod 31 attached to valve element 30 extends downwardly through the valve port 2 7 into the lower chamber 15. Located in the lower chamber 15 and attached to the lower end of rod 31 is a float element 32.

.It is preferred that the float element 32 be adjustably connected to rod 31, as is provided by the threaded connction 33, so that the vertical position of float element 32 can be accurately located in lower chamber 15, for reasons which will be explained subsequently in detail.

The body member wall 12 at the upper portion of This structural arrangement enlower chamber 15 is provided with an aperture 34 through which a charge of liquid detergent or liquid rinsing agent, depending upon the field of usage of the washing appliance, may be introduced into the lower chamber 15. A closure 35 is provided for aperture 34 to prevent water from being unintentionally introduced into the lower chamber 15 during operation of the washing machine.

Also provided in wall 12 of body member part 11 at the upper portion of lower chamber 15 is a valve means 36 which is of a type adapted to permit the passage of air into and out of chamber 15 yet adapted to preclude water or other liquid from entering into such chamber 15. The valve means 36 permits the free passage of air into and out of lower chamber 15 to compensate for the changing levels of liquid in such lower chamber.

Formed internally of upper body member part 16 and spaced above partition 20 is a transverse wall 37 that has a slight downward taper. A hole 40 is provided in the center of wall 37 which enables the water coming in over the open upper side of the body member to be introduced into the upper chamber 22 between partition 20 and wall 37. The wall 37 tends to reduce or minimize to a great extent any turbulence of the water in the chamber 22, and hence materially enhances the accuracy of liquid flow through timing hole 26 at its predetermined rate. For example, water after entering chamber 22 cannot splash upwardly along the side wall and out of the body member. Such water engages the wall 37 and is contained in chamber 22. Moreover, water coming over the edge of the body member engages the wall 37 instead of the water immediately therebelow, thus reducing turbulence in chamber 22.

A screen 41 is disposed over the opening 40 leading into the upper chamber 22, the screen 41 being adapted to catch any foreign matter such as food particles or lint, depending upon the field of usage of the washing appliance, and prevents such objects from entering into chamber 22 and hence precludes the possibility of such objects blocking the timing hole 26. The screen 41 is detachable, and can be readily removed and cleaned.

The dispenser is placed in the washing appliance, either a dishwasher or clothes washer, in a position so that the water introduced into the machine during the first stage of operation flows into the open top of body member 16 and into upper chamber 22 so that it is filled.

It is thought that the mode of operation and functional result of this liquid dispenser has become fully apparent from the above detailed description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, it will be noted that when the dispenser is utilized in a dishwasher, the operator first introduces a charge of liquid detergent into the lower chamber 15. This liquid detergent charge may be introduced through aperture 34. If a two part construction of body member is utilized, the upper body member part 16 may be lifted off of the lower body member part 11 and the charge hence introduced into the open upper end. In the latter instance, the upper body member part 16 is replaced after the liquid detergent is placed in lower chamber 15.

Then the dishwashing machine is started, and the pre-rinse stage causes water to fill the upper chamber 22. The water from chamber 22 passes through timing hole 26 at a predetermined rate. After the pre-rinse period the level of water in lower chamber assumes the approximate level indicated by reference numeral 42 which is near the reverse bend of siphon tube 23. The timing hole 26 is made of a predetermined size so that level 42 is attained right at the start of the wash period.

The float 32 is threadedly adjusted on rod 31 so that when the predetermined level 42 of liquid in lower chamber 15 is attained at the start of the Wash period,

the float 32 causes valve element 30 to lift from its seat and open the valve port 27. Immediately, the quantity of water in upper chamber 22 rushes through the valve port 27 into the lower chamber 15, causing a fast rise in the liquid level in such lower chamber 15, and hence institutes a fast effective siphoning ac tion. The water and liquid detergent in lower chamber 15 is then siphoned through tube 23 outwardly into the appliance.

It is seen that in the preferred construction, the valve port 27 is at least as large in effective area, and preferably larger, than the effective area of siphon tube 23. This particular construction enables all of the water contained in upper chamber 22 to flow downwardly into the lower chamber 15, and hence enables siphoning of all water from chambers 22 and 15.

As the liquid level rises during opening of valve element 30, the air above such level escapes through the valve means 36. Conversely, when the liquid level in lower chamber 15 drops during the siphoning action, air is drawn in through valve means 36 to compensate and maintain atmospheric pressure on such level.

After the liquid level drops below the predetermined level 42, the float 32 causes the valve element 30 to seat and close the valve port 27. However, the siphoning action of tube 23 continues until all liquid is removed from the lower chamber 15.

The same sequence of operation occurs when the liquid dispenser is utilized in a clothes washer, the only exception being that the timing hole 26 is of a predetermined size and the float 32 is adjusted so that the critical predetermined level 42 is reached just at the start of the first rinse period so as to introduce a rinsing agent, previously disposed in lower chamber 15 at the start of the washing operation, into the rinse water.

It is seen that the time period before the start of siphoning action can be accurately determined either by adjustment of the float 32 so that a liquid level after such predetermined time period has lapsed, will cause actuation of valve element 30 to open valve port 27, or by making the timing hole of a size so that after the elapsed time period a predetermined liquid level in lower chamber 15 will be attained so that float 32 causes actuation of valve 30 to open valve port 27. Of course, this time period can be accurately determined by a combination of adjustment between the size of timing hole 26 and the position of float 32.

The time period can be determined by the insertion of an insoluable disk 43 or a plurality of such disks that act to reduce the capacity of the lower chamber 15 by a predetermined amount. Thus the liquid level 42 can be reached during a shorter time period.

The fast rush of water from upper chamber 22 into lower chamber 15 through valve port 27 causes a quick rise in the liquid level in lower chamber 15, eliminates all air gaps in the siphoning tube 23, and hence causes faster and more efficient siphoning action. Because the capacity of upper chamber 22 is greater than the effective capacity of lower chamber 15 from bottom wall 14 to the predetermined liquid level 42 necessary to start 7 siphoning action, all liquid will be siphoned from lower chamber 15 at the end of the cycle of operation of the washing appliance.

The dispenser 10 can be connected by tubing 46 to a liquid reservoir 44 located at the top of the washing appliance. The reservoir 44 includes a plunger 45 that can be depressed to allow a predetermined charge of liquid to flow through tube 46 into lower chamber 15 of dispenser 10.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a liquid dispenser for a Washing appliance, comprising a body member having separate chambers one above the other, a partition between said chambers pro viding a bottom for said upper chamber, the partition being provided with a hole of a predetermined size through which liquid passes from the upper chamber to the lower chamber at a predetermined rate, said hole being open at all times, a siphon tube in the lower chamber having one end located adjacent the bottom of the chamber and the opposite end extending out of the chamber below the said one end, said siphon tube having a summit in said lower chamber above the tube ends, the upper chamber being open to collect a supply of liquid, the body member including means for permitting the introduction of a liquid charge in the lower chamber, the partition being provided with a valve port, a valve element normally closing said port, a float means engaging a liquid level in the lower chamber below the summit of said siphon tube, the float means being connected to the valve element for actuation to open the valve port responsive to a predetermined liquid level below the summit of said siphon tube in the said lower chamber after a predetermined time period, and means communicating the upper portion of the lower chamber above the liquid level in said lower chamber with the atmosphere to permit passage of yet operatively preclude liquid from entering therethrough into said lower chamber.

2. In a liquid dispenser for a washing appliance, comprising a body member having separate chambers one above the other, a partition between said chambers providing a bottom for said upper chamber, means in the partition through which liquid passes from the upper chamber to the lower chamber at a predetermined rate, a siphon tube in the lower chamber having one end located adjacent the bottom of the chamber and the opposite end extending out of the chamber below the said one end, said siphon tube having a summit in said lower chamber above the tube ends, the upper chamber being open to collect a supply of liquid, means permitting the introduction of a liquid charge in the lower chamber, the partition being provided with a valve port, a valve element normally closing said port, a float means engaging a liquid level in the lower chamber below the summit of said siphon tube, the float means being connected to the valve element for actuation to open the valve port responsive to a predetermined liquid level below the summit of said siphon tube in the said lower chamber, and means communicating the upper portion of the lower chamber above the liquid level in said lower chamber with the atmosphere to permit passage of air yet operatively preclude liquid from entering therethrough into said lower chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 59,029 Ivers Oct. 23, 1866 213,920 McKissock Apr. 1, 1879 1,096,176 Madden May 12, 1914 2,534,014 Gayring Dec. 12, 1950 2,671,037 Stoddard Mar. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,314 Great Britain of 1886 709,989 France May 26, 1931 

